The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking another swing at developing wide receiver depth, signing Cole Burgess to a reserve/future contract for the 2026 season. It’s a low-risk move with some intriguing upside - the kind of flyer Pittsburgh has taken before, especially on small-school talent with big-time athletic traits.
Burgess, 25, first appeared on the Steelers’ radar back in November when he worked out for the team. While he didn’t land a deal at the time, something clearly stuck with the coaching staff and front office. Fast forward a couple months, and the Steelers decided to bring him into the fold with an eye toward offseason development and training camp competition.
A former undrafted free agent out of Division III Cortland State, Burgess initially signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. He spent that season on the Bengals’ practice squad and returned for 2025, but was released in August before the regular season kicked off. Over two preseasons, he suited up for five games but didn’t log any official stats.
What he does bring to the table, though, is elite athleticism. Burgess stands 6 feet tall, weighs 192 pounds, and posted eye-popping numbers during his pre-draft testing.
He ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash, clocked a 6.72 in the three-cone drill, and soared for a 41.5-inch vertical. All told, he earned a 9.80 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) out of 10 - a metric that compares athleticism across position groups.
That’s the kind of explosiveness that turns heads, even if it comes from the D-III level.
And while his college competition may not have been top-tier, his production certainly was. Burgess spent six years at Cortland, playing four seasons, and capped off his career with a monster 2023 campaign: 87 catches, 1,375 yards, and 16 touchdowns. He also flashed some special teams value, returning three kickoffs for touchdowns and averaging 25 yards per return across his career.
The Steelers have a long history of finding contributors from smaller programs. Their current roster features Division II products like Kyle Dugger (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Aiden Williams (Minnesota-Duluth), along with FCS standouts such as Miles Killebrew (Southern Utah), Christian Kuntz (Duquesne), Dylan Cook (Montana), Mason McCormick (South Dakota State), and Donald Parham (Stetson). Burgess fits that mold - a high-upside athlete from a small school who’ll get a chance to prove he belongs.
For now, this is a developmental signing. But if Burgess can translate his raw tools into consistent production - especially on special teams or as a depth receiver - he could carve out a role in Pittsburgh’s 2026 plans.
The Steelers have made a habit of turning overlooked prospects into contributors. Burgess will look to be the next in line.